One syllable: Called.
kawld
/kɔld/
Called is pronounced kawld (/kɔld/). It has one syllable (Called), with the stress on "Called". Called is a past-tense verb form used as the past participle of call, and it also functions as an adjective meaning 'summoned' or 'named.' In pronunciation, it is a one-syllable word often realized as a reduced, consonant-lean syllable in connected speech, with the vowel reduced toward a mid-central position and a final /ld/ cluster that blends with the surrounding sounds.
adjectiveCalled is a past-tense verb form used as the past participle of call, and it also functions as an adjective meaning 'summoned' or 'named.' In pronunciation, it is a one-syllable word often realized as a reduced, consonant-lean syllable in connected speech, with the vowel reduced toward a mid-central position and a final /ld/ cluster that blends with the surrounding sounds.
"She called to check if you were coming."
"The committee called for more data before deciding."
"It was called a breakthrough by industry experts."
Pronounce as /kɔːld/ in US and UK, with a one-syllable structure. Start with a velar /k/ release, then the open-mid back lax vowel /ɔː/ (as in 'all'), followed by a light /l/ with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge, and finish with the alveolar /d/. In fast speech, the vowel may be reduced slightly and the /l/ and /d/ blend, giving a quicker, more clipped endpoint. IPA reference: US /kɔld/, UK /kɔːld/. Mouth: lips slightly rounded for /ɔː/, tongue back high, tip of the tongue near the alveolar ridge for /l/ and /d/ contact.”,
Common errors include: 1) Devolving to /kæld/ with an American flat short /a/; 2) Dropping the /l/ or misplacing it, making /kod/ or /kold/; 3) Overpronouncing the final /d/ as a strong stop. Correction tips: keep the back-vowel /ɔː/ (or /ɔ/ in strong dialects) before the /l/, ensure the tongue tip lightly touches the alveolar ridge for /l/ without creating a separate vowel; end with a soft, brief /d/ instead of a hard release. Practice with slow speed and then increase tempo.”,
In US English, /kɔld/ with rhotic /r/ absent; the /ɔ/ is broader, vowel quality resembles 'aw' in 'saw'. In UK English, /kɔːld/ often features a longer /ɔː/ vowel, and in some southern accents, the /l/ can be darker or more velarized. Australian English typically favors a clear /ɔː/ with somewhat rounded lips and a lighter /l/; the final /d/ remains dental/alveolar and brisk. Stress is on the single syllable, with minor vowel length differences and consonant release timing across varieties.”,
The difficulty lies in the vowel quality before a consonant cluster /ld/ and in maintaining a crisp /l/ before the rapid /d/ release. The /ɔː/ vowel can be reduced in fast speech, causing ambiguity with /kɒld/ or /kɔld/ depending on dialect. Additionally, the /l/ and /d/ can blend in connected speech, which may blur the boundary for non-native speakers. Focus on holding the /ɔː/ long enough and articulating the /l/ clearly before a precise /d/.
One unique aspect is the vowel and consonant timing in the coda cluster. You want the /ɔː/ vowel to maintain a stable quality, then execute an unobtrusive alveolar /l/ followed by a clean, quick /d/. In some fast speech, you may hear /kɔːl d/ as two segments; aim for a tight, single release without creating an extra vowel between /l/ and /d/. Visualize the tongue transitioning directly from /l/ to /d/ with minimal lip rounding changes.”,
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Called comes from Old English calian, meaning to name, designate, or summon. The root cal- likely derives from Proto-Germanic *kaljanan, which carried the sense of calling or naming aloud. In Middle English, forms like calden appeared, with pronunciation shifting due to assimilation and vowel changes over time. The verb contributed the past tense -ed ending as English verb conjugation standardized, producing called as /kɔːld/ in many dialects. The modern form retains the hard /k/ onset and the final /ld/ cluster, with the vowel frequently reduced in unstressed positions in connected speech. Over centuries, pronunciation drift led to the common realization where the /ɔː/ vowel in stressed environments often absorbs into closer back vowels before the consonant cluster, while rapid speech blends the /l/ and /d/ into a light alveolar tap in certain dialects. First known written attestations appear in Old English texts around the 9th-11th centuries, with the sense of naming or summoning consistently associated with the word through the medieval period and into modern usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Called"
-old sounds
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